Shoe sole with shock absorbing layer structure

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure relates to a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layer structure, the shoe sole including a midsole constituting an upper portion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portion that corresponds to an arch of a foot and an outsole constituting a lower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shock absorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 2022-0034492, filed on Mar. 21, 2022, the disclosure ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a shoe sole with a shock absorbinglayer structure, and more particularly, to a shoe sole with a shockabsorbing layer structure in which a bending structure forming an archsupport is formed on a midsole to absorb shock against a midfoot portionand evenly distribute stress thereon so that the shock absorbing layeris formed between the midsole and an outsole, and a cushioning portionconfigured to correctly guide a center-of-pressure path of a foot soleduring walking is formed on a bottom surface of the outsole to preventand correct deformity of the foot.

2. Discussion of Related Art

Since the feet, knees, pelvis, and spine are connected to each other bythe kinetic chain in the human body, foot diseases and deformities maycause pain and deformity in the knees, waist, or shoulders which arevarious musculoskeletal diseases. Accordingly, walking correctly so asnot to cause foot deformities is important, and shoes that distribute auser's foot pressure to guide the user to walk correctly are required.

Meanwhile, existing shoe pads are mass-produced and thus cannot satisfyall foot shapes of users with different foot structures. When one wearsshoes with pads that are not suitable for the foot shape for a long timeor walks with poor posture, stress may be concentrated to incorrectareas and cause foot diseases such as plantar fasciitis.

[Document 1] below relates to a slipper with an arch portion anddiscloses a slipper formed by inserting an end portion of an upperbetween a sole and a midsole forming an arch portion and then stitchingthe sole and the midsole, excluding the arch portion, using stitchingthreads.

In [Document 1] described above, the arch portion is formed on an upperportion of the midsole and comes in close contact with the sole of thefoot, thus providing wearing comfort and stability. However, the archportion of [Document 1] only comes in close contact with an inner archof the sole of the foot and does not distribute stress on a midfootportion or absorb shock, and there is a problem that a varus due to ametatarsal bone or an outer arch cannot be prevented.

Also, [Document 2] below relates to an outsole with an inclined grooveaccording to a foot joint position and bone and muscle movement of thefoot and discloses an outsole in which an inclined groove is formed tocorrespond to a foot joint position from a rear end with respect to theentire length of the outsole and which is naturally bendable like thebending of the foot. However, [Document 2] relates to the outsole whichis configured to be bendable like the foot by the inclined groovecorresponding to the foot joint position and the bone and musclemovement of the foot and does not disclose a structure for distributingstress on a midfoot portion or absorbing shock. Thus, it is not possibleto effectively guide foot pressure movement according to walking, andthere is a problem that it is difficult to reduce pressure applied tothe middle bone and metatarsal head which are protruding parts of thefoot where fatigue is accumulated the most during the stance phase ofwalking.

-   [Document 1] Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0441101 (Date    of Registration: Jul. 15, 2008)-   [Document 2] Korean Patent Registration No. 10-1833886 (Date of    Registration: Feb. 23, 2018)

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to providing a shoe sole with a shockabsorbing layer structure in which, in a sole made of a midsole and anoutsole, an arch support configured to support a foot arch is providedon a midfoot portion of the midsole, and a bending structure is formedon the midfoot portion of the midsole to form a shock absorbing layerbetween the midsole and the outsole, thereby distributing foot pressureduring walking.

The present disclosure is also directed to providing a shoe sole with ashock absorbing layer structure in which a cushioning portion configuredto guide a correct center-of-pressure path during walking is formed on abottom surface of the outsole to correct the foot and prevent excessiveinternal rotation that may occur in the stance phase in which the footcomes in contact with the ground.

The present disclosure provides a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layerstructure, the shoe sole including a midsole constituting an upperportion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portionthat corresponds to an arch of a foot and an outsole constituting alower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed toguide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shockabsorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portionof the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole.

Also, a portion of the midsole that corresponds to the midfoot portionof the foot is formed as a bending structure that is bent upward to forma hollow layer between the midsole and the outsole while the midsole iscombined with the outsole.

Also, in the bending structure, a portion near an inner portion of thefoot may be bent more than a portion near an outer portion of the foot.

Also, the arch support of the midsole may include an inner arch supportconfigured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding toan inner arch of the foot and an outer arch support configured toprotrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an outer archof the foot.

Also, the inner arch support may protrude more than the outer archsupport.

Also, a hindfoot portion of the midsole may be formed in a cup shape inwhich an edge portion of the midsole surrounds a heel of the foot.

Also, the outsole may be combined with the midsole and have a firstcurved structure where a forefoot portion is lifted upward and a secondcurved structure where the hindfoot portion is partially cut.

Also, the cushioning portion may have a first cushioning groove, asecond cushioning groove, and a third cushioning groove formed tocorrespond to positions of the first metatarsal head, the fifthmetatarsal head, and the heel bone of the foot.

In addition, the cushioning portion may include a fourth cushioninggroove in which a streamlined groove is formed along an outer line ofthe outsole from the second cushioning groove to the third cushioninggroove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentdisclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in theart by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing the human foot structure;

FIGS. 3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot and stressdistribution of a flat foot, wherein FIG. 3A shows the stressdistribution of a normal foot and FIG. 3B shows the stress distributionof a flat foot;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure;

FIGS. 5A-5B shows lateral views of the shoe sole with the shockabsorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure, whereinFIG. 5A is an internal lateral view and FIG. 5B is an external lateralview;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a center-of-pressure path on a bottomsurface of an outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure; and

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of the outsole of the shoe sole with the shockabsorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure.

The patent or application file contains at least one drawing executed incolor. Copies of this patent or patent application publication withcolor drawing(s) will be provided by the Office upon request and paymentof the necessary fee.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are views for describing the human foot structure, andFIGS. 3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot and stressdistribution of a flat foot. A shoe sole with a shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure may be manufactured to fiteach of the right foot and left foot, and since the two shoe soles havestructures symmetrical to each other, the shoe sole will be describedbased on the right foot.

Also, in the present disclosure, when both feet are placed side by side,“inner” refers to a medial side of the foot and “outer” refers to alateral side of the foot.

Referring to FIG. 1 , the human foot has first to fifth metatarsal bonesthat support the top of the foot from behind the toes, and parts whereeach of the metatarsal bones and toe bones touch are referred to asmetatarsal heads. In the present disclosure, description will be givenby referring to the metatarsal head connected to a great toe bone as afirst metatarsal head 10 and referring to the metatarsal head connectedto a little toe bone as a fifth metatarsal head 20. Generally, the firstmetatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head 20, and a heel bone 30which protrude from a sole of the foot come in contact with the groundfirst.

A triangular part having the first metatarsal head 10, the fifthmetatarsal head 20, and the heel bone 30 as vertices forms a curved footarch. A foot arch that connects the first metatarsal head 10 or thefifth metatarsal head 20 to the heel bone 30 is referred to as alongitudinal arch. A part which is an inner side of the foot andconnects the first metatarsal head 10 and the heel bone 30 forms aninner longitudinal arch, and a part which is an outer side of the footand connects the fifth metatarsal head 20 and the heel bone 30 forms anouter longitudinal arch. Generally, the inner longitudinal arch isformed larger than the outer longitudinal arch.

Meanwhile, referring to FIGS. 3A-3B, since the foot structure isdifferent for each person, differences occur in distribution of stressapplied to the sole of the foot according to the foot structure. FIGS.3A-3B shows stress distribution of a normal foot, and it can be seenthat, in the case of a normal foot, stress is evenly distributedthroughout the metatarsal bones and the heel bone. On the other hand, inthe case of a flat foot shown in FIG. 3B, stress tends to beconcentrated toward the heel bone, that is, the heel of the foot. Theconventional readymade shoes have a problem that it is difficult tosatisfy all of the different foot shapes of people.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a shoe sole with a shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure, FIGS. 5A-5B shows lateralviews of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layer structureaccording to the present disclosure, FIG. 6 is a front view of the shoesole with the shock absorbing layer structure according to the presentdisclosure, and FIG. 7 is a rear view of the shoe sole with the shockabsorbing layer structure according to the present disclosure.

A shoe sole 100 with a shock absorbing layer structure according to thepresent disclosure includes a midsole 110 constituting an upper portionof the shoe sole 100 and having an arch support formed on a portion thatcorresponds to an arch of the foot and an outsole 120 constituting alower portion of the shoe sole 100 and having a cushioning portionformed to guide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein ashock absorbing layer 130 configured to absorb shock applied to amidfoot portion of the foot is formed between the midsole 110 and theoutsole 120.

The shoe sole 100 is a base of a slipper or a shoe and is manufacturedin various sizes to fit various foot sizes. The upper portion of theshoe sole 100 is made of the midsole 110, and the lower portion of theshoe sole 100 is made of the outsole 120. For example, the midsole 110and the outsole 120 may be made of elastic urethane or rubber.

The midsole 110 is a shoe sole member configured to directly support afoot sole of a user, and a portion of the midsole 110 that correspondsto the midfoot portion of the foot forms a bending structure that isbent toward an upper side, that is, a longitudinal arch portion and ametatarsal bone, which is the center of the foot sole, of the user.Also, referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 , in order to support each of the innerlongitudinal arch and the outer longitudinal arch of the user, an innerarch support 111 and an outer arch support 112, each having a domeshape, protrude from inner and outer midfoot portions of the midsole110.

Also, the bending structure of the midsole 110 is bent so that an innerportion of the foot is formed larger than an outer portion of the foot.This is because, generally, the inner longitudinal arch is formed deeperthan the outer longitudinal arch. Also, as the bending structure isformed so that the inner portion is larger, the inner arch support 111protrudes more than the outer arch support 112.

Also, a curved structure that is lifted upward so that a slope is formedtoward the user's foot is formed on a forefoot portion of the midsole110. The slope of the forefoot portion allows dorsiflexion of theforefoot portion that heads toward the center of the foot from the firstmetatarsal head 10 and the fifth metatarsal head 20, thus facilitatingfoot stamping during walking, allowing natural dorsiflexion of the toes,and inducing an arch lifting effect.

Also, a cup-shaped heel cup 140 in which an edge portion of the midsolesurrounds the heel of the foot is formed on a hindfoot portion of themidsole 110 to gather a fat layer of the heel of the foot, absorb shockapplied to the heel of the foot during walking, and stabilize theposture.

The outsole 120 is a shoe sole member configured to be combined with themidsole 110 from below the midsole 110 and absorb shock transmitted fromthe ground and may have an outer edge protruding upward to serve as acatching member and press-fit the midsole 110 into the outsole 120.However, the present disclosure is not limited thereto, and for example,the midsole 110 and the outsole 120 may be combined by adhesion.

Also, a midfoot portion of the outsole 120 has a flat shape unlike thebending structure of the midfoot portion of the midsole 110, and whenthe outsole 120 is combined with the midsole 110, the shock absorbinglayer 130 is formed on the midfoot portion of the outsole 120.Accordingly, the shock absorbing layer 130 provides a cushioning spacethat cushions shock applied to the midfoot portion while the user walks,and thus it is possible to evenly distribute stress applied to themidfoot portion.

Also, a curved structure that is lifted upward so that a slope is formedtoward the user's foot is formed on a forefoot portion of the outsole120 as on the forefoot portion of the midsole 110. Accordingly, byallowing dorsiflexion of the forefoot portion of the user duringwalking, foot stamping may be facilitated, and an arch lifting effectmay be induced.

Also, a curved structure that is partially cut to have a predeterminedslope is formed on a hindfoot portion of the outsole 120, and thus,while the user is walking or standing, the heel of the foot can stablycome in contact with the ground, and in a case in which the heel of thefoot is inclined toward the rear, shock applied to the heel of the footmay be absorbed. For example, the curved structure of the hindfootportion of the outsole 120 may be formed so that heights of an innerside and an outer side are different. For example, the curved structuremay be cut more toward the inner side.

FIG. 8 is a view for describing a center-of-pressure path on a bottomsurface of an outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is a bottomview of the outsole of the shoe sole with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure.

Meanwhile, in typical walking, a walking cycle may be divided into thestance phase and the swing phase. The stance phase refers to a phase ofthe walking cycle during which the shoe sole 100 is in contact with theground, and the swing phase refers to a phase of the walking cycleduring which the shoe sole 100 is off the ground.

In the case in which the shoe sole 100 is in contact with the groundduring the stance phase, pressure applied to the sole of the foot isconcentrated to the first metatarsal head 10, the fifth metatarsal head20, and the heel bone 30, and a considerable amount of fatigue may befelt in such protruding parts of the sole of the foot when walking iscontinued.

The shoe sole 100 according to the present disclosure has a cushioningportion formed on a bottom surface of the outsole 120 to guide acenter-of-pressure path during walking. More specifically, thecushioning portion is a groove formed in the bottom surface of theoutsole 120 and may provide a cushioning space during walking.

The cushioning portion includes a first cushioning groove 121, a secondcushioning groove 122, and a third cushioning groove 123 formed tocorrespond to positions of the first metatarsal head 10, the fifthmetatarsal head 20, and the heel bone 30 on the bottom surface of theoutsole 120. Each of the cushioning grooves may be formed in anelliptical shape or a streamlined shape to effectively cushion a widerange of the metatarsal heads, but the present disclosure is not limitedthereto.

Anatomically, the inner arch is formed larger than the outer arch in atypical human foot, and pressure is concentrated more on the outerlongitudinal arch than the inner longitudinal arch during walking. Thatis, in the stance phase, the center of pressure on the sole of the footmoves from the heel bone 30 to the fifth metatarsal head 20 and thefirst metatarsal head 10 along the outer longitudinal arch. Such acenter-of-pressure movement path is referred to as a center-of-pressure(COP) path, and the COP path is formed from the heel bone 30 to thefifth metatarsal head 20 along the outer line of the foot.

The cushioning portion includes a fourth cushioning groove 124 in whicha streamlined groove is formed along the COP path from the thirdcushioning groove 123 to the second cushioning groove 122 of the bottomsurface of the outsole 120. Accordingly, while the user walks, pressureon the sole of the foot may be guided to move along the correct COP pathdue to the first to fourth cushioning grooves, and thus a support forcefor the shoe sole 100 may be improved, and excessive internal rotationthat may occur during walking may be prevented.

As described above, in the shoe sole 100 with the shock absorbing layerstructure according to the present disclosure, since the arch supports111 and 112 configured to support a foot arch are formed on the midsole110, metatarsal varus may be prevented, the sole of the foot may come inclose contact with the shoe sole 100 such that the impulse of the footis improved, and correct alignment of the body may be maintained. Sincethe shock absorbing layer 130 is formed between the midsole 110 and theoutsole 120 due to the bending structure of the midfoot portion of themidsole 110, stress may be distributed on the foot during walking.

Also, since the cushioning grooves that can guide the COP path of thefoot during walking are formed in the bottom surface of the outsole 120,excessive internal rotation of the foot that may occur during walkingmay be prevented, and an area in which the foot comes in contact withthe ground may be increased to distribute foot pressure.

According to the present disclosure, since an arch support configured tosupport a foot arch is formed on a midsole, metatarsal varus can beprevented, and the impulse of the foot can be improved to increasewalking efficiency and maintain correct alignment of the body.

Also, according to the present disclosure, since a midfoot portion ofthe midsole is formed as a bending structure, a shock absorbing layercan be formed between the midsole and an outsole and distribute footpressure during walking.

In addition, according to the present disclosure, since a cushioninggroove that can guide a center-of-pressure path of the foot duringwalking is formed in a bottom surface of the outsole, excessive internalrotation of the foot that may occur during walking can be prevented toprevent and correct a flat foot, and a contact area of the foot can beincreased to distribute foot pressure.

The above description of the present disclosure is merely illustrative,and those of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosurepertains should understand that the present disclosure may be easilymodified to other specific forms without changing the technical spiritor essential features of the present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A shoe sole with a shock absorbing layerstructure, the shoe sole comprising: a midsole constituting an upperportion of the shoe sole and having an arch support formed on a portionthat corresponds to an arch of a foot; and an outsole constituting alower portion of the shoe sole and having a cushioning portion formed toguide a center-of-pressure path while a user walks, wherein a shockabsorbing layer configured to absorb shock applied to a midfoot portionof the foot is formed between the midsole and the outsole, and thecushioning portion includes, as grooves formed on a bottom surface ofthe outsole, a first cushioning groove, a second cushioning groove, anda third cushioning groove formed at portions that corresponds to thefirst metatarsal head, the fifth metatarsal head, and the heel bone ofthe foot.
 2. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein a portion of the midsolethat corresponds to the midfoot portion of the foot is formed as abending structure that is bent upward to form a hollow layer between themidsole and the outsole while the midsole is combined with the outsole.3. The shoe sole of claim 2, wherein, in the bending structure, aportion near an inner portion of the foot is bent more than a portionnear an outer portion of the foot.
 4. The shoe sole of claim 3, whereinthe arch support of the midsole includes: an inner arch supportconfigured to protrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding toan inner arch of the foot; and an outer arch support configured toprotrude in a dome shape from a portion corresponding to an outer archof the foot.
 5. The shoe sole of claim 4, wherein the inner arch supportprotrudes more than the outer arch support.
 6. The shoe sole of claim 3,wherein a hindfoot portion of the midsole is formed in a cup shape inwhich an edge portion of the midsole surrounds a heel of the foot. 7.The shoe sole of claim 3, wherein the outsole is combined with themidsole and has a first curved structure where a forefoot portion islifted upward and a second curved structure where the hindfoot portionis partially cut.
 8. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the cushioningportion includes a fourth cushioning groove in which a streamlinedgroove is formed along an outer line of the outsole from the secondcushioning groove to the third cushioning groove.